Still Alice is a poignant and compelling story of a woman living with “early onset” Alzheimer’s disease. This is a reread for me. Do you reread favorite books from your bookshelf?
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Genre/Categories: Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Mental Health
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Summary:
Alice is happily married with three adult children and is a brilliant Harvard professor. Then she’s diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Alice struggles to maintain her lifestyle and employs various coping strategies….until she can’t.
My Thoughts:
About the Author
Lisa Genova is one of my favorite authors (although I’m not a completist). She writes about mental health and is an accomplished academic.
Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.
Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neurological conditions and our shared human condition.
She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Bates College, The Alzheimer’s Association’s Rita Hayworth Award, The Huntington’s Disease Society of America Community Awareness Award, and the Grubby Award for literary excellence.
Lisa Genova’s TED Talk on Alzheimer’s
I’ve read three of her books:
My Reading Experience
Still Alice is on my reread list. Because I read this year’s ago and I haven’t reviewed it for the blog, I thought a reread would be timely. I also haven’t seen the film adaptation, and I wanted to reread it before watching the film. Since I read it in print the first time, I decided to reread via audio format. I think this might not have been a wise decision. The author narrates the audio book, and I felt like another narrator might have been better. The narration came across as someone who sat down to read a paper…maybe for a class. She’s an excellent reader, but she’s not a “performer.” I felt the story could have been read with more expression and emotion…more “performance.” I gave 5 Stars to the story the first time, but my audio experience leads me to give 4.5 Stars. Also, the first time you read a story like this, it has a high impact that is difficult to achieve in a second read.
In the first read, I was totally absorbed with Alice and her mental health. In the reread, I paid some attention to her husband and children. I was frequently annoyed with her husband. I think hearing from his perspective would have been helpful. It seems like her children (especially the daughters) were more understanding and sympathetic (eventually). Her husband wanted to carry on with his career and lifestyle. For example, he took her to their Cape Cod vacation home (which was their annual tradition), but Alice was distraught and disoriented with her change of routine and the unfamiliar surroundings. He was away for long periods and, in my opinion, left her alone for too long. He pressured her to have dinner with friends when she reported that her conversational abilities and memory were troubling her. He tended to have a “deal with it” or “you can handle it” attitude. It was like this was happening to HER and not to THEM. Again, chapters from his perspective might have been helpful. This was another reason, I couldn’t give the reread a full five stars.
Mental Health
From a mental health perspective, Still Alice is a wonderful and memorable five-star read! The author’s understanding of the disease and expertise were evident with each page. She takes us on a personal journey with Alzheimer’s from a first person POV: the early stages and the devastating progression. Although the story is told from Alice’s perspective, we see how Alzheimer’s affects the entire family. Even though it’s not an easy read, I highly recommend this well-written story.
Have You Read It?
This is a book I can recommend to everyone. It’s informative and builds understanding and compassion. Now, I’m curious to watch the film adaptation. I’ll update this review with my reflections.
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Fab review, Carol.I loved this book when I read it years ago, and remember the husband not coping at all well with Alice’s diagnosis, I really didn’t like him at all. I wonder what you’ll think of the film?
Thanks! I guess when I read it I was as so invested in Alice that I wasn’t paying attention to the husband. I wonder why she wrote him like that? Did you see the film?
Not read the book or seen the film, but this is an interesting subject and it touches the lives of many people. Thanks for the review.
It’s a heartbreaking disease. The book s well done.
I remember how powerful this book is, but the subject matter is so sad and upsetting (and hits a little close to home due to family experiences over the last several years) that I don’t think I’d reread it. I’ve seem the movie. It’s a powerhouse cast, and they do a fantastic job –well worth checking out.
I’m eager to see the movie.
I haven’t read this one, or any by Lisa Genova. I like how on rereads different things pop up that sometimes give you a whole new reading experience/perspective. Thanks for linking up.
Especially rereading in a different format!
I have read Still Alice, AND seen the movie, and they did a good job. I recommend it. Genova’s ability to describe what Alzheimer’s is like is just phenomenal, and devastating. I didn’t even know about early onset when i read the book. I have also read Left Neglected, a condition which is horrible, of course, but also fascinating! I thought it was one of the best books ever and I recommend it to friends, but nobody is listening to me! It’s just a freaky thing. The last one I’ve read is Every Note Played, and oh my….I will never look at that disease the same way again. ALS. Yikes, it was just horrifying, but I feel like I’m glad I know about it now. I’m trying to get hold of Remember, but so far, no luck.
I hope eventually to be a Genova completist!
I have read and loved this, Carol. I also want to reread and thanks for the heads-up about the audiobook narration. I’ll stick to my print copy. 💖📚
It’s not bad…just not wonderful
Life is too short for audio that isn’t wonderful, Carol! 😉💖📚
By coincidence we watched the film (again) last weekend. The husband in that version doesn’t come across as you’ve described he does in the book. He does take a prestigious new job which requires him to be away from Alice for long periods but his explanation is that they need the money for her treatment.
Thanks for the feedback! In the book, he can’t pass up the job because it’s a once in a lifetime career move. I like the move version better. If the money aspect was mentioned i didn’t notice.
Hi Carol I read this book a few years ago and also watched the movie. I enjoyed the book, despite the topic which was quite emotional. Thanks for sharing at #WOYBS? Happy Reading. x
A memorable, compelling, and heartbreaking story!
I have not read that book but it sounds interesting.
Tbr worthy!
I read this back in 2017, and remember it to be very emotional and hard to read. I know I started it more than once. I haven’t watched the movie yet, and maybe I should. My BIL who passed away earlier this year, had Alzheimer’s for the last 5 years and I know how difficult it was for him and my sister.
Genova depicts the heartbreaking disease so well. My husband has dementia and it’s difficult for everyone.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I will keep you all in my prayers. I know how difficult it can be.
😢 thanks, friend. It’s been quite an adjustment this year.